Seven Tips to Guarantee Your Halloween Party is Seriously Spooky

Spooky season is here again. Here are some ideas to make your Halloween party truly special this year.

Be adventurous with your theme

Everything is much more fun when you have a theme.

Choose décor and food to fit your theme and ask guests to wear something that fits in with it if they can.

You could opt for a traditional Halloween theme, such as ghosts, ghouls or vampires. Or you could go for something film-based. Think Harry Potter, Ghostbusters, Beetlejuice, Day of the Dead or Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Watch a film, or tell horror stories

This is the cheapest Halloween party idea bar none.

Turn out all the lights. Gather everyone round to watch your favourite scary movies or take turns to read horror stories.

Hold your party outside

Everything becomes instantly spookier when you’re outside at night on Halloween.

Set up a tent or gazebo in case it’s rainy. Light some Halloween lanterns and have a barbecue or firepit.

Organise a ghost walk

Research the area’s local history to find out about haunted places nearby.

Grab some Halloween lanterns and torches and take your group out on a guided tour.

Try an app-based Halloween party

Teens will absolutely love this take on Halloween.

There are apps that offer Halloween music and scary immersive games. Other apps help you hunt down ghosts and ghouls or let you create spooky photos and videos for social media.

Make it a masquerade party

Masquerade parties are ideal for a swish adult Halloween party with a difference.

Dating back to the Venetian Carnival in the 15th century, masquerade parties have slightly sinister overtones too, having appeared in several horror films. Everyone wears a mask to conceal their identity, so you can never be quite sure who you’re talking to.

Hire a performer

If you feel like splashing out, hire an actor to dress up as your favourite horror character – Dracula, Frankenstein or a zombie, mummy or clown – and scare your guests witless. A local talent agency or drama club may be able to help.

Another spooky twist on this theme is to hire a fortune teller or tarot card reader.

One last thing: Plan your party so that it is guest and age appropriate. Small children often love Halloween but can be scared very easily. Keep the unadulterated horror for an adult party.